Calculation of the ion velocity distribution function in a rotating plasma

Using a single-particle orbit picture of the plasma ions in the puffatron (a device with rotating plasma), the corresponding ion velocity distribution function is calculated. The spread in the ion Larmor velocity due to the initial break-down phase is taken into account assuming a parabolic distribution for this spread.

The calculated ion velocity distribution function is integrated along a chord in order to make it possible to compare the calculations with suitable measurements along a chord of the ion velocity spectrum.